Washington Arubi spends weekend in police cells over $4 000 maintenance default

Warriors and University of Pretoria goalkeeper Washington Arubi spent the weekend in police cells following his arrest on Saturday morning over a $4 000 maintenance default.

Arubi, 30, of Sakubva who is employed by University of Pretoria Football Club in South Africa was convicted on his own plea of guilt by magistrate Poterai Gwezhira for defaulting in paying maintenance.

He was sentenced to a four-month jail stint wholly suspended on condition he settles the maintenance arrears by June 30, 2016

Arubi had been ordered to pay a monthly maintenance of $650 to his ex-wife Tatenda Nyandoro and their two children Washington Jnr and Nathan on January 30, 2015. He was arrested at a bank in the CBD on Saturday after a warrant for his arrest had been issued by the Mutare Civil Court.

It was the State's case that Arubi defaulted paying $434 in February, $650 in March, $490 in April, $390 in May, $400 in June, $400 in July, $550 in August, $550 in September and $550 in October and $500 in November.

This takes his arrears to $4 914.

The maintenance was set in absentia on January 30 as Arubi was in South Africa and failed to turn up for the hearing.

Walter Saunyama was prosecuting.